Minute Book
2

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

was then nominated and appointed recorder to record the
Patriarchal blessing of this branch of the church—. The following report
was then presented and read by the
clerk

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

We the
undersigned committee chosen by the high council of Zion on this
6th day of December AD. 1837 to take
into consideration the expediency of remunerating the Presidency and
high council and also the
bishop

27 Aug. 1793–27 May 1840. Hatter. Born at Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of William Partridge and Jemima Bidwell. Moved to Painesville, Geauga Co., Ohio. Married Lydia Clisbee, 22 Aug. 1819, at Painesville. Initially a Universal Restorationist...

and his council for their services when
employed in doing the business of the church of Latter day saints,—
having met agreeably to appointment and after taking the aforesaid
business into consideration it is our united opinion that the
aforesaid officers togegher together with
the clerk

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

7 June 1794–3 Feb. 1869. Farmer. Born at Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. Son of Gideon Carter and Johanna Sims. Moved to Benson, Rutland Co., Vermont, by 1810. Married Lydia Kenyon, 2 Dec. 1818, at Benson. Moved to Amherst, Lorain Co., Ohio, by ...

5 Nov. 1797–29 Dec. 1867. Farmer. Born in Madison Co., Kentucky. Son of John Groves and Mary Hurd. Moved to Indiana, 1819. Married first Sarah Hogue, ca. 1825, in Indiana. Member of Presbyterian church. Baptized into LDS church by Calvin Beebe, 1 Mar. 1832...

27 Aug. 1793–27 May 1840. Hatter. Born at Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of William Partridge and Jemima Bidwell. Moved to Painesville, Geauga Co., Ohio. Married Lydia Clisbee, 22 Aug. 1819, at Painesville. Initially a Universal Restorationist...

To the high council in the land of Zion: Whereas the
undersigned has payed six hundred dollarls to
Lawyers to carry on suits with the
Jackson County

Settled at Fort Osage, 1808. County created, 16 Feb. 1825; organized 1826. Named after U.S. president Andrew Jackson. Featured fertile lands along Missouri River and was Santa Fe Trail departure point, which attracted immigrants to area. Area of county reduced...

mob And
has also paid three hundred dollars costs in carrying on said suits; For
which he has never received any remuneration; In paying the above he
has involved himself; having had to borrow it for which in part, at least,
he is now paying their per cent interest. Having a large family to support
and no means whereby he can at present extricate himself from these debts.
He therefore asks the high council whether they are willing
[p. 88]

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

was then nominated and appointed recorder to record the
Patriarchal blessing of this branch of the church—. The following report
was then presented and read by the
clerk

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

We the
undersigned committee chosen by the high council of Zion on this
6thday of December AD. 1837 to take
into consideration the expediency of remunerating the Presidency and
high council and also the
bishop

27 Aug. 1793–27 May 1840. Hatter. Born at Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of William Partridge and Jemima Bidwell. Moved to Painesville, Geauga Co., Ohio. Married Lydia Clisbee, 22 Aug. 1819, at Painesville. Initially a Universal Restorationist...

and his council for their services when
employed in doing the business of the church of Latter day saints,—
having met agreeably to appointment and after taking the aforesaid
business into consideration it is our united opinion that the
aforesaid officers togegher [together] with
the clerk

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

7 June 1794–3 Feb. 1869. Farmer. Born at Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. Son of Gideon Carter and Johanna Sims. Moved to Benson, Rutland Co., Vermont, by 1810. Married Lydia Kenyon, 2 Dec. 1818, at Benson. Moved to Amherst, Lorain Co., Ohio, by ...

5 Nov. 1797–29 Dec. 1867. Farmer. Born in Madison Co., Kentucky. Son of John Groves and Mary Hurd. Moved to Indiana, 1819. Married first Sarah Hogue, ca. 1825, in Indiana. Member of Presbyterian church. Baptized into LDS church by Calvin Beebe, 1 Mar. 1832...

27 Aug. 1793–27 May 1840. Hatter. Born at Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of William Partridge and Jemima Bidwell. Moved to Painesville, Geauga Co., Ohio. Married Lydia Clisbee, 22 Aug. 1819, at Painesville. Initially a Universal Restorationist...

To the high council in the land of Zion: Whereas the
undersigned has payed six <hundred> dollarls to
Lawyers to carry on suits with the
Jackson County

Settled at Fort Osage, 1808. County created, 16 Feb. 1825; organized 1826. Named after U.S. president Andrew Jackson. Featured fertile lands along Missouri River and was Santa Fe Trail departure point, which attracted immigrants to area. Area of county reduced...

mob And
has also paid three hundred dollars costs in carrying on said suits; For
which he has never received any remuneration; In paying the above he
has involved himself; having had to borrow it for which in part, at least,
he is now paying their per cent interest. Having a large family to support
and no means whereby he can at present extricate himself from these debts.
He therefore asks the high council whether they are willing
[p. 88]

On
13 December 1838, six weeks after
JS and other church leaders were taken prisoner
during the “Mormon War” in northwest
Missouri

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Mormon missionaries...

Located in western Missouri, thirteen miles north of Independence. Settled 1820. Clay Co. seat, 1822. Incorporated as town, May 1829. Following expulsion from Jackson Co., 1833, many Latter-day Saints found refuge in Clay Co., with church leaders and other...

1 June 1801–29 Aug. 1877. Carpenter, painter, glazier, colonizer. Born at Whitingham, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of John Young and Abigail (Nabby) Howe. Brought up in Methodist household; later joined Methodist church. Moved to Sherburne, Chenango Co., New...

Originally called Shoal Creek. Located fifty-five miles northeast of Independence. Surveyed 1823; first settled by whites, 1831. Site purchased, 8 Aug. 1836, before Caldwell Co. was organized for Latter-day Saints in Missouri. William W. Phelps and John Whitmer...

Agreeable to
appointment—the standing High Councellors met, when it was found that several
were absent, who, (some of them,) have had to flee for their lives, therefore
it being necessary that those vacancies be filled the meeting was called for
that purpose, and, also, to express each others feeling respecting the word of
the Lord. . . .

1 June 1801–29 Aug. 1877. Carpenter, painter, glazier, colonizer. Born at Whitingham, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of John Young and Abigail (Nabby) Howe. Brought up in Methodist household; later joined Methodist church. Moved to Sherburne, Chenango Co., New...

made a few remarks saying he thought it all important to have the
Council reorganized, and prepared to do business.

He advised the
councellors to be wise and judicious in all their movements and not hasty in
their transactions; as for his faith it was the same as ever, and he
fellowshiped all such as loved the gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
in act as well as deed word. (Minute Book 2,
13 Dec.
1838)

This entry from
Minute Book 2, a volume sometimes known as the Far West Record (see JS,
Journal, Mar.−Sep., 1838,
13 Apr. 1838),
is a reminder of the crisis of leadership and faith endured by
JS’s followers in the aftermath of the Mormon War.
Brigham
Young

1 June 1801–29 Aug. 1877. Carpenter, painter, glazier, colonizer. Born at Whitingham, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of John Young and Abigail (Nabby) Howe. Brought up in Methodist household; later joined Methodist church. Moved to Sherburne, Chenango Co., New...

and others sought to rally the church in the face of daunting
challenges while they awaited JS’s return from jail.

Minute Book 2,
compiled beginning in 1838, contains 178 pages of
minutes. They cover church conferences, councils, and other meetings held in
New York

Located in northeast region of U.S. Area settled by Dutch traders, 1620s; later governed by Britain, 1664–1776. Admitted to U.S. as state, 1788. Population in 1810 about 1,000,000; in 1820 about 1,400,000; in 1830 about 1,900,000; and in 1840 about 2,400,...

First settled by French at Vincennes, early 1700s. Acquired by England in French and Indian War, 1763. U.S. took possession of area following American Revolution, 1783. Area became part of Northwest Territory, 1787. Partitioned off of Northwest Territory ...

French explored area, 1669. British took possession following French and Indian War, 1763. Ceded to U.S., 1783. First permanent white settlement established, 1788. Northeastern portion maintained as part of Connecticut, 1786, and called Connecticut Western...

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Mormon missionaries...

Became part of Northwest Territory of U.S., 1787. Admitted as state, 1818. Population in 1840 about 480,000. Population in 1845 about 660,000. Plentiful, inexpensive land attracted settlers from northern and southern states. Following expulsion from Missouri...

beginning in 1830 and
ending, with the exception of two entries from 1844, in 1839. The minutes
in the volume were copied from earlier notes and, aside from the
1844 transcriptions, were not inscribed into the
minute book contemporaneously. Another portion of the bound volume, not
presented here, contains seventy-three pages of
Warren Parrish

10 Jan. 1803–3 Jan. 1877. Clergyman, gardener. Born in New York. Son of John Parrish and Ruth Farr. Married first Elizabeth (Betsey) Patten of Westmoreland Co., New Hampshire, ca. 1822. Lived at Alexandria, Jefferson Co., New York, 1830. Purchased land at...

Minutes copied into Minute Book
2 for meetings predating April 1838 were
originally taken by
John
Whitmer

27 Aug. 1802–11 July 1878. Farmer, stock raiser, newspaper editor. Born in Pennsylvania. Son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman. Member of German Reformed Church, Fayette, Seneca Co., New York. Baptized by Oliver Cowdery, June 1829, most likely in Seneca...

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

, and about nineteen other clerks. Whitmer, who was appointed
official church historian in 1831 (Minute Book 2,
9 Apr. 1831; JS History,
vol. A-1,
111) and assistant church
president for Missouri

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Mormon missionaries...

in 1834 (Minute Book
2,
7 July 1834), also served
as one of the clerks for the Missouri high council from
July 1834 until December 1837
(Minute Book 2,
12 July 1834–23
Dec. 1837). Oliver Cowdery served briefly as a “standing Clerk” for the
council beginning in December 1837, and then on
6 April 1838,
Ebenezer Robinson

25 May 1816–11 Mar. 1891. Printer, editor, publisher. Born at Floyd (near Rome), Oneida Co., New York. Son of Nathan Robinson and Mary Brown. Moved to Utica, Oneida Co., ca. 1831, and learned printing trade at Utica Observer. Moved to Ravenna, Portage Co....

’s handwriting designates the volume as
“Conference Minutes, and Record Book, of Christ’s Church of Latter Day Saints.
Belonging to the High Council of said Church, or their successors in office, of
Caldwell County Missouri; Far West: April 6,
1838.” That page may have been a later insertion, as the date reflects
Robinson’s assumption of office as clerk and recorder.

27 Aug. 1802–11 July 1878. Farmer, stock raiser, newspaper editor. Born in Pennsylvania. Son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman. Member of German Reformed Church, Fayette, Seneca Co., New York. Baptized by Oliver Cowdery, June 1829, most likely in Seneca...

had gathered in his role as church
historian. This collection probably included some original minutes. Whitmer
apparently refused to turn the records over to Robinson. On
9 April 1838,
JS and
Sidney
Rigdon

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

wrote to
Whitmer demanding his notes (JS, Journal, Mar.−Sep., 1838,
9 April 1838).
According to Robinson’s later account (Ebenezer Robinson, “Items of Personal
History of the Editor,” in The Return (Davis City, Iowa,
September 1889, 134), Whitmer then permitted Robinson and
Levi
Richards

to make a copy of a compilation that he had begun four or five
years earlier. This assemblage included conference and council minutes from
9 June 1830 through 7 December
1837. Sometime afterward, Robinson and Richards recorded this material
in Minute Book 2. Thus, that portion of Minute Book 2 is in effect a copy of a
copy of a copy.

’s handwriting appears on pages 43 and 52−55. Page 87 is in an
unidentified hand. Most of the minutes in this portion of the volume are of
councils and conferences held in
Missouri

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Mormon missionaries...

,
but minutes are also included for a handful of meetings held in
New York

Located in northeast region of U.S. Area settled by Dutch traders, 1620s; later governed by Britain, 1664–1776. Admitted to U.S. as state, 1788. Population in 1810 about 1,000,000; in 1820 about 1,400,000; in 1830 about 1,900,000; and in 1840 about 2,400,...

French explored area, 1669. British took possession following French and Indian War, 1763. Ceded to U.S., 1783. First permanent white settlement established, 1788. Northeastern portion maintained as part of Connecticut, 1786, and called Connecticut Western...

First settled by French at Vincennes, early 1700s. Acquired by England in French and Indian War, 1763. U.S. took possession of area following American Revolution, 1783. Area became part of Northwest Territory, 1787. Partitioned off of Northwest Territory ...

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, LDS church purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas. Served as church headquarters, 1839...

Originally called Shoal Creek. Located fifty-five miles northeast of Independence. Surveyed 1823; first settled by whites, 1831. Site purchased, 8 Aug. 1836, before Caldwell Co. was organized for Latter-day Saints in Missouri. William W. Phelps and John Whitmer...

high council and to copy them into Minute Book 2. (Nauvoo High
Council Minutes, 1 Oct. 1842) These were the minutes Robinson began keeping
when he was sustained as clerk for the Far West high council in
April 1838. Robinson had not yet transferred
his own notes to Minute Book 2 in the aftermath of the Mormon War and his
assumption of duties as copublisher of the Times and Seasons
with Don Carlos Smith

25 Mar. 1816–7 Aug. 1841. Farmer, printer, editor. Born at Norwich, Windsor Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Palmyra, Ontario Co., New York, 1816–Jan. 1817. Moved to Manchester, Ontario Co., 1825. Baptized into LDS church by David...

’s cooperation, inscribed more than eighty
pages of minute entries into the volume, covering conferences, councils, and
other meetings from 23 December
1837 through 2 January 1839. Subsequently, the
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, LDS church purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas. Served as church headquarters, 1839...

,
JS’s personal secretary, for use in compiling JS’s
history. (Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 14 Sep. 1843) The last entries made in
the volume were by
Joseph
Cole for two Nauvoo high council meetings, on 1 and 15 June
1844. These last entries were evidently made contemporaneously, as Cole
was dismissed as high council clerk in September
1844.

The minutes compiled in Minute
Book 2, though for the most part not copied into that record at or near the
time of the meetings they record, offer a remarkable view of the unfolding of
early church organization and governance. The text captures and illuminates
critical aspects of the church’s development including early conferences in
New York

Located in northeast region of U.S. Area settled by Dutch traders, 1620s; later governed by Britain, 1664–1776. Admitted to U.S. as state, 1788. Population in 1810 about 1,000,000; in 1820 about 1,400,000; in 1830 about 1,900,000; and in 1840 about 2,400,...

French explored area, 1669. British took possession following French and Indian War, 1763. Ceded to U.S., 1783. First permanent white settlement established, 1788. Northeastern portion maintained as part of Connecticut, 1786, and called Connecticut Western...

First settled by French at Vincennes, early 1700s. Acquired by England in French and Indian War, 1763. U.S. took possession of area following American Revolution, 1783. Area became part of Northwest Territory, 1787. Partitioned off of Northwest Territory ...

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Mormon missionaries...

Settled at Fort Osage, 1808. County created, 16 Feb. 1825; organized 1826. Named after U.S. president Andrew Jackson. Featured fertile lands along Missouri River and was Santa Fe Trail departure point, which attracted immigrants to area. Area of county reduced...

A group of approximately 205 men and about 20 women and children led by JS to Missouri, May–July 1834, to redeem Zion by helping the Saints who had been driven from Jackson County, Missouri, regain their lands; later referred to as “Zion’s Camp.” A 24 February...

27 Aug. 1802–11 July 1878. Farmer, stock raiser, newspaper editor. Born in Pennsylvania. Son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman. Member of German Reformed Church, Fayette, Seneca Co., New York. Baptized by Oliver Cowdery, June 1829, most likely in Seneca...

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

; and the outbreak and
consequences of the 1838 Mormon War in Missouri.
Minute Book 2 and Minute Book 1, which covers significant events in
Kirtland

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and 1,000 others; in 1838 about 2,000 Saints and 1,200 others; in 1839 about 100 Saints and 1,500 others. Mormon missionaries visited township...

JS revelation, dated 20 July 1831, designated Missouri as “land of promise” for gathering of Saints and place for “city of Zion,” with Independence area as “center place” of Zion. Latter-day Saint settlements elsewhere, such as in Kirtland, Ohio, became known...

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, LDS church purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas. Served as church headquarters, 1839...

Stake High
Council, “The Conference Minutes, and Record Book, of Christ’s Church of Latter
Day Saints,” Minute Book 2, 6 Apr.
1838–[ca. June 1838], [ca. Oct. 1842], [ca. June
1844]; handwriting of
Ebenezer Robinson

25 May 1816–11 Mar. 1891. Printer, editor, publisher. Born at Floyd (near Rome), Oneida Co., New York. Son of Nathan Robinson and Mary Brown. Moved to Utica, Oneida Co., ca. 1831, and learned printing trade at Utica Observer. Moved to Ravenna, Portage Co....

,
Joseph
M. Cole, and an unidentified scribe; 178 pages, as well as indexing in
tabbed pages at beginning of book; CHL. Includes tables, redactions, use marks,
and archival marking.

The second of two texts inscribed in a
ledger book. The paper, which is ruled both horizontally and vertically,
measures 12½ × 7¾ inches (32 × 20 cm). The book contains 276 leaves, including
the flyleaves in the front and back of the book. The bound book, which features
a brown suede leather cover, measures 13 × 8½ × 1¾ inches (33 × 22 × 4 cm). The
spine has a pasted red label with “LEDGER” in gold lettering. Following the
four front flyleaves, the first twenty-four pages are tabbed index pages. The
next seventy-three pages were used by
Warren Parrish

10 Jan. 1803–3 Jan. 1877. Clergyman, gardener. Born in New York. Son of John Parrish and Ruth Farr. Married first Elizabeth (Betsey) Patten of Westmoreland Co., New Hampshire, ca. 1822. Lived at Alexandria, Jefferson Co., New York, 1830. Purchased land at...

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and 1,000 others; in 1838 about 2,000 Saints and 1,200 others; in 1839 about 100 Saints and 1,500 others. Mormon missionaries visited township...

,
Ohio. Following a blank page, Minute Book 2 fills the next 187 pages, although
there are some blank pages within and at the end of this record. The portion of
the ledger in which Minute Book 2 is inscribed has its own pagination, all
apparently done by
Hosea
Stout.
Ebenezer Robinson

25 May 1816–11 Mar. 1891. Printer, editor, publisher. Born at Floyd (near Rome), Oneida Co., New York. Son of Nathan Robinson and Mary Brown. Moved to Utica, Oneida Co., ca. 1831, and learned printing trade at Utica Observer. Moved to Ravenna, Portage Co....

’s handwriting appears on pages 43 and 52–55. There is also
unidentified handwriting in the middle of page 87. The inscription ends with
minutes of the
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, LDS church purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas. Served as church headquarters, 1839...

, Illinois,
stake high council meetings held
1 and 15 June 1844,
recorded by
Joseph
M. Cole on pages 178–185. The minutes were recorded with a quill pen, and
all are in brown ink, except for some blue ink on pages 179–181. The remaining
251 pages of the book are blank. There were originally four back flyleaves;
only two remain, and they are blank.

Minute Book 2
includes several redactions made in graphite, as well as some marking in blue
pencil. The leather cover was decorated with blind tooling at some point, and a
paper sticker was pasted on the spine with “CONFERENCE MINUTES AND HIGH COUNCIL
RECORDS OF FAR WEST” inscribed in unidentified handwriting. This sticker
resembles several other such stickers found on early church record books.

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, LDS church purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas. Served as church headquarters, 1839...

exodus
inventory as part of “Records of High Council.” It
is listed in middle- and late-nineteenth-century inventories of the Historian’s
Office in Salt Lake City. The Historian’s Office apparently
made a microfilm copy of the volume in 1954. Church historian Joseph
Fielding Smith took the volume with him to the Office of the First Presidency
when he became church president in 1970 and kept it in his safe. The book was returned to the Church History
Department in 2008. These archival records and archival marking
on the book indicate continuous institutional custody.

Minute Book 2 includes minutes of the first
church conferences held in
New York

Located in northeast region of U.S. Area settled by Dutch traders, 1620s; later governed by Britain, 1664–1776. Admitted to U.S. as state, 1788. Population in 1810 about 1,000,000; in 1820 about 1,400,000; in 1830 about 1,900,000; and in 1840 about 2,400,...

French explored area, 1669. British took possession following French and Indian War, 1763. Ceded to U.S., 1783. First permanent white settlement established, 1788. Northeastern portion maintained as part of Connecticut, 1786, and called Connecticut Western...

in
1831. The bulk of the minutes, however, are from
meetings held in Missouri

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Mormon missionaries...

Settled at Fort Osage, 1808. County created, 16 Feb. 1825; organized 1826. Named after U.S. president Andrew Jackson. Featured fertile lands along Missouri River and was Santa Fe Trail departure point, which attracted immigrants to area. Area of county reduced...

Settled ca. 1800. Organized from Ray Co., 1822. Original size diminished when land was taken to create several surrounding counties. Liberty designated county seat, 1822. Population in 1830 about 5,000; in 1836 about 8,500; and in 1840 about 8,300. Refuge...

Located in northwest Missouri. Settled by whites, by 1831. Described as being “one-third timber and two-thirds prairie” in 1836. Created specifically for Latter-day Saints by Missouri state legislature, 29 Dec. 1836, in attempt to solve “Mormon problem.” ...

counties during the
1830s. The record also includes
minutes of meetings held in
Indiana

First settled by French at Vincennes, early 1700s. Acquired by England in French and Indian War, 1763. U.S. took possession of area following American Revolution, 1783. Area became part of Northwest Territory, 1787. Partitioned off of Northwest Territory ...

Became part of Northwest Territory of U.S., 1787. Admitted as state, 1818. Population in 1840 about 480,000. Population in 1845 about 660,000. Plentiful, inexpensive land attracted settlers from northern and southern states. Following expulsion from Missouri...

.
JS was present at New York and Ohio meetings and
was present at Missouri meetings when he visited there and after moving there
in March 1838. This record of minutes concludes
in 1839, with the exception of minutes for two
high council meetings held in
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, LDS church purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas. Served as church headquarters, 1839...

The minutes
inscribed in Minute Book 2 are copies—most likely copies of copies. The
original minutes of these early church conferences, councils, and other
meetings were taken by
John
Whitmer

27 Aug. 1802–11 July 1878. Farmer, stock raiser, newspaper editor. Born in Pennsylvania. Son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman. Member of German Reformed Church, Fayette, Seneca Co., New York. Baptized by Oliver Cowdery, June 1829, most likely in Seneca...

and several other men who acted as clerks. Whitmer, who lived in
Missouri

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Mormon missionaries...

, who began functioning as the
clerk of the Zion (Missouri) high council in
Far
West

Originally called Shoal Creek. Located fifty-five miles northeast of Independence. Surveyed 1823; first settled by whites, 1831. Site purchased, 8 Aug. 1836, before Caldwell Co. was organized for Latter-day Saints in Missouri. William W. Phelps and John Whitmer...

on 3 March 1838, was formally
appointed to that position on 6 April
1838.
Immediately following his appointment, Robinson attempted to procure the
records of the church in Far West from Whitmer, but Whitmer refused to
relinquish them. In response,
JS and
Sidney
Rigdon

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

wrote a letter on 9 April 1838
demanding that Whitmer surrender his notes for the history he had been
appointed to keep for the church.
Half a century later, Robinson recounted that although Whitmer ignored this
demand to give up his historical notes, a “record” was obtained from Whitmer
and brought to Robinson’s house, and Robinson “copied the entire record into
another book, assisted a part of the time, by Dr.
Levi
Richards

.” That Robinson copied the record into “another book” seems to
imply that Whitmer’s record was also kept in a record book. That Minute Book 2
is dated 6 April 1838 (when Robinson was
appointed clerk), begins in Robinson’s handwriting, and includes handwriting
from Richards indicates that it is the copy of the early minutes of the church
that Robinson made from Whitmer’s record. Robinson titled his copy of the
record book “The Conference Minutes, and Record Book, of Christ’s Church of
Latter Day Saints.” The minute book has been more commonly known by the shorter
and less formal name “Far West Record.” Because of its importance in the
1830s and the frequency with which
it is cited in the annotation of The Joseph Smith Papers, it has
been designated with the short citation “Minute Book 2.”

The minutes of
the church’s January 1831 conference, as
recorded on page 2 of Minute Book 2, include a reference to a revelation
recorded on page 80 of the “Book of Commandments.” This indicates that
Whitmer

27 Aug. 1802–11 July 1878. Farmer, stock raiser, newspaper editor. Born in Pennsylvania. Son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman. Member of German Reformed Church, Fayette, Seneca Co., New York. Baptized by Oliver Cowdery, June 1829, most likely in Seneca...

’s record was a copy of the original minutes and
was likely made sometime between 1833 and
1835 after printing of the Book of Commandments had begun and before the
Doctrine and Covenants was published. If Whitmer had begun making his copy of
the minutes after the publication of the Doctrine and Covenants, he would have
been much more likely to reference that book than the unfinished printing of
the Book of Commandments. That
Robinson

25 May 1816–11 Mar. 1891. Printer, editor, publisher. Born at Floyd (near Rome), Oneida Co., New York. Son of Nathan Robinson and Mary Brown. Moved to Utica, Oneida Co., ca. 1831, and learned printing trade at Utica Observer. Moved to Ravenna, Portage Co....

made a copy of the minutes, rather than
continuing Whitmer’s record, suggests that Whitmer’s record was returned to
him. Whitmer left
Far
West

Originally called Shoal Creek. Located fifty-five miles northeast of Independence. Surveyed 1823; first settled by whites, 1831. Site purchased, 8 Aug. 1836, before Caldwell Co. was organized for Latter-day Saints in Missouri. William W. Phelps and John Whitmer...

on 19 June 1838.
He remained in v and never reestablished ties with the church in
Illinois

Became part of Northwest Territory of U.S., 1787. Admitted as state, 1818. Population in 1840 about 480,000. Population in 1845 about 660,000. Plentiful, inexpensive land attracted settlers from northern and southern states. Following expulsion from Missouri...

. Robinson, therefore, apparently
finished copying Whitmer’s record of minutes by19 June when Whitmer separated from the body
of the Saints. In the lists of conference and council participants found in
some of the minutes, some names are followed by parenthetical remarks regarding
their excommunication or their disciplinary status. These parenthetical notes
were evidently added by Whitmer when he copied the originals and were then
copied from Whitmer’s record by Robinson.